Machine for folding cartons



D. hEElVF-iUFF MACHINE FOR FOLDING (PARTONS Jan. 29, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1948 JNVENTOR. W

ditor gg Jan. 29, 1952 D. LEVKOFF 2,583,860

MACHINE FOR FOLDING CARTONS Filed Sept. 16, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 29, 1952 D. LEVKOFF MACHINE FOR FOLDING CARTONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 16, 1948 Z INVENTOR. fi i 22 z j y fliiorrg Jan. 29, 1952 D. LEVKOFF MACHINE FOR FOLDING CARTONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 16, 1948 INVENTOR. Jar/L L ZevJfCofi D. LEVKOFF' MACHINE FOR FOLDING CARTONS Jam. 29, 1952 6 Sheets-$heet 6 INVENTOR. Jawz'd/ lax/{9f Filed Sept. 16, 1948 ,ioriaig Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR FOLDING CARTONS David Levkofl, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application September 16, 1948, Serial No. 49,543 4 (CI. 93-49) 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for folding cardboard box blanks and setting up or erecting the walls of the box into position for receiving the articles or goods to be packed in the box. The invention has particular reference to traylike boxes or containers, examples of which are shown in U. S. Patents Nos. 2,274,714 and 2,342,551 although the mechanism to be hereafter described is readily applicable to and useful in connection with, operations upon boxes of other construction.

An object of the present invention is to provide means by which a plurality of box blanks in collapsed or flat form are successively removed from the bottom of the stack and are moved by suitable conveyor mechanism toward end-folding means where the end and side walls of the box are erected or folded upwardly to vertical ;position and have flaps downturned and tucked into slits located at the junctions of the box bottom and end walls.

The invention contemplates the provision of means by which the above operations are speedily and effectively performed and the erected boxes rapidly dispensed from the machine.

These and other objects are attained by the invention, a more particular description of which will hereinafter appear and be set forth in the claims appended hereto. In the accompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed, Fig.1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention,

withthe stack-holder and adjacent parts omitted from this view to simplify the disclosure; Fig. 2

is a top plan view of the machine; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine with certain parts thereof omitted to more clearly show the drive means and conveyor course; Fig. 4 is a side view of the front end of the machine; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view'of the folding fingers showing the same in the act of erecting the end walls of the carton or tray; Fig. 6 is a similar view, showing the fingers folding down the locking flaps and causing the same to be tucked into the slits in the bottom of the carton; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the collapsed or flattened carton; Fig. 8 is a view looking at the bottom of the'fiattened carton, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view in section of the erected carton, showing one of the end walls in its upstanding position.

The box which is erected by the improved ma- "chine, is disclosed in detail in- Figs. 7, 8 and 9, and the operation of the machine will be more readily comprehended when the construction of the box and the blank from which it is formed, is fully understood.

The box blank in its flattened condition and as supplied to the machine for erection, is shown at I in Fig. '7 and in the form shown it is of tubular form, the bottom of the box or tray which the blank forms, being shown at 2. The opposite face of the blank is centrally and longitudinally split at 3 to form the two panels 4 and 5 which are subsequently raised or erected to vertical position, as shown in Fig. 9 to form the side walls of the box or tray. It will be noted that the lengthy slit 3 connects with curved transverse slits 6, the ends of these slits meeting the ends of score lines 1. Score lines 8 also extend across the panels 4 and 5 at the points clearly seen in Fig. '7.

Located beyond the score lines 8 are the end walls of the box, said walls including the locking flaps 9, transversely scored at If] and slit through the central portion of the score line as indicated at H. The. bottom 2 of the box has the flaps. l2 at its opposite ends, said flaps being provided with the transverse score lines l3. The bottom 2 of the box it also transversely scored as at l5 and also slit on these score lines as indicated at l4. Said slits I4 are intended to receive the ends of the locking flaps 9 when the box is erected, as shown in Fig. 9. To erect the box blank, the same is folded upwardly upon the score lines I 5, and this upward folding movement of the opposite ends of the blank causes the panels or box side walls. 4 and 5 to fold outwardly or away from one another on the angular score lines 1, and also on the score lines 8. When the side walls 4 and 5 reach their vertical position, it. will be found that they have raised the opposite ends of the box, consisting of the parts of the box blank located beyond the fold lines IE, to a substantially vertical position. To maintain all of the four walls of the box. in vertical position, the locking flap 9 is folded. downwardly upon the fold line I 0 to have its free end tucked or inserted in the slit [4 in the bottom 2. When this is done, the walls of the box assume and retain the box in a rigid tray-like form in readiness to receive its contents. After the box is filled, a wrapping of transparent material is usually placed around. it, the same holding the end flaps l2 infolded over the top of the contents of the box.

In the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, the box blanks, in the flattened condition shown in Fig. 7 are maintained in a stack 3 from the bottom of which they are successively removed by a chain conveyor operative below the stack, and which removes the blanks from the I bottom of the stack and transports them to folding means which folds the end walls to an erect or upright position, and a which movement serves to simultaneously fold the side walls also to an upright position. The folding means includes a pair of pivoted fingers which swing toward one 'anotherand enter intolthe'box"and fold down the locking flaps '9 at the opposite ends thereof and cause said locking flaps to be tucked into the slits I4 provided in the bottom 2 of the box. The machine is provided with a'lower frame having sides including supporting -1egsd'I' and 52, connected and braced by-.members 43 and 4 3. Suitably supported in the lower frame of the machine is an electric motor 46, the shait ot-which carries a pulley 41 about which a belt 46 extends.

" ":Saidi'beIt-M :extends about 'a pulley 31a rotative loni'fill'shaft Mlrcarried ,infthe bracket .49 suitably supported from the top portion of theirame; A pulley fidtis connected togpulley 3| or driven ztherebyyandypulley :53-:is engaged by :a belt 54'. which extends upwardly and around a" pulley 55a don the "shaft155 of :redu'ci-ng gearing assembly acontainedin-the-housing Il suitably supported Fin theirame'oi themachine and surroundedby heupperfram'e members 55. The reducingggear- 'gzincludes asprocket I8 engaged bythe chain Secured- 011 thewcamtshaftii are the spaced- 1iaparts-sprocketsbfi, around which the conveyor chains 23 xtend, said conveyor chains extending upwardly sand being .in mesh with 'upper sprockets r24 motativelyrmounted upon an upper ishaft .25 locatedziabove :the' rcamishaft 2 I. The conveyor chains then";extend-rearwardly:overidler 'sprocketsfifirrrotatively supported by brackets --la"ndcontinue rearward-lyxtozpass aroundzsprockets V "21 ion shaft 728, extending therefrom :to .the zispro'ckets 22. ':;The-chains 23 are ,thus'endless i-ichains :constituting i'ccnveyor :chains zand these :chains "carry, at rsuitablyzspacedintervals, lugs "which engage the I flattened cartons win :the *sistackland'successively removext'hesameefronr-the '=:bottom of the? stack iandlcarry them ttowardithe -zifrion't en'dsof theimachine toithe"folding devices -z,which'f'fold the ends of t thetrboxes to ianv erect'tor iuprig'ht position: and tuck the locking? flaps '9 :into

The stack of fiattened box ashlanks I and :in which thefblanks .in'ithe' form showniiniEig; '7 1 are placed on toprof one: another, isishownzat fl l tupon: which the-stacker cartons is rested. S aid baseplate, isform'ed with an-inclined forward end x38 and'is'slotted:asiindicated at 39, topermit the efentrysofthexconveyorichain lugs 3I to enable a vthe: lugsito engage-against the. edge'tof; the lowermost box blank in the stack and Slide it .for-

wardly and off. the bottom plate 33 and downthe .iinclirred I'fGllVflfd portion thereof, "and move it ftowardzthef'forwardzportion of the machine where :the foldingrdevices areelocated. 1

While each carton blank is being thus moved forwardly by the conveyor chains 23, it is supported flatwisely upon suitable rails such as indicated at 69, El, 62 and 63, these rails constituting V 5 part of the upper framework of the machine. Means may be utilized to hold the cartons down flatly on these supporting rails, such means consisting of fiat spring rollers, or similar pressureimposing elements, such as for example, upper 1 guidebars, one of which isShOWrliat (ill in Figs. Band 4. Such guide'barsare suspended on rods 65 adjustably dependent from clamps 68 secured aon cross rods 6? and 68. Cross rods 61 and 68 are secured between the horizontally disposed 5 frame members 69 supported; by uprights 69a, as

'clearlyseen' in Figs. 1 and 2. a 7

As the flattened carton blanks are carried forwardly along therails 60 to 63 inclusive by the :conveyor chains 23, the end wall portions, of the cartons may be initially upwardly bent or folded, and this can behdone .by-..guide p1ates disposed ...along.-.the ends of thecartons, one of said plates being; shown at Jilin Fig. 3, the same being mount- .ed at the end- ,oithe-rod llicarried bythe clamp 5 IZ-son crossrod .61. .Theresult of this arrange- ..mentis .to fold the carton-blank preliminarilygon the fold lines I5 and'to also cause the two flaps .9Jand I2 attheopposite ends of the car-tonrto be .folded inwardly. Thispreliminary.folding action ofathe end .portions .of the carton, occursbefore the carton reaches'a pair of plate-like supports 13 and -l4,..one of which is shown in.Fig..2, and there beingv a.similar-one located-at the opposite -..side of themachine.

.These plate-like supports are each provided with .a downwardly inclined end portion' 15 (Fig. .4) which facilitates the dispositionof .thecarton -blank on therny'and. whenpassingover theses-suprlports I3 .and 14, the end .portions of the' blank pass-under pressing-rollers 16 and :I! supported by the arms 15a suspended zfromicross bar 68. Said. rollers 16 and .11 flatten down. the infolded v -flap,\1: or.tions..9 and-Heat. the. opposite ends of .the carton. .The cartcn is next engaged at. its rear edge by a pair .of.-fingers consisting ofthe up- .wardly directed ends of. a :yoke 19, which; engages -.against the rear edge of ethecarton and moves it forwardly.intoiolding position.

The yoke I9 on which the-fingers 'IBare iOrmed, has azhub which is rockingl-ylmounted on the shaft 25,3and. it includes a downwardly extending camlever-flll, carrying the .cam roller 8|, .mainvtained .in contact with thetedge of acam 82 secured on the cam. shafti I :Springs .orrother knownmeans for. holding ,the .roller 8 I. in: contact with the edge :of the cam-82 may be..utilized. .1 such" known, means being omitted. from the drawting to.simplifyillustration. ..Also secured, on the cam shaft I 2 l. is-a qcam 183 andagainst the edge-of the same islocated the cams-roller 84' atatheend of the" arm-85 which forms agdownward. extension of the .hub ofa. -carton-restraining yoke 86, having the upturned ends or r fingers 8?, which engage against the'forward edge of the carton and hold it againstforward inovement while the walls and ends or the eartonarebeing foldedto an erect position. .The roller -84 may also be maintained against the cam =83 by springs not-shown. The parts described to are so .-arrange,d and'theiractio n is sotimed-that 7 when the cartonds movediiorwardly: from under the rollers "I23 and it wilhreach a position H below the folding:.:fingers-88 :and .89 where. it"will ribecome located between the restraining elements wand 81;. and held thereby. stationaryioma .dwell preferably adjustable on the body of the finger to compensate for cartons of different length.

The body of the finger 88 is pivoted at 92 between the walls of an adjustable support 93, adjustably mounted on a supporting bracket 94 fastened to one of the side frames 55. An adjusting screw 95 permits the bracket 93 to be moved as required to enable the machine to operate upon cartons of various lengths.

The finger 88 is pivotally attached at 96 to the upper end of a pitman 9'! which has its lower end attached by a ball-and-socket connection 98 to a pin 99 at the end of a crank I secured on the cam shaft 2|. At the opposite end of the cam shaft 2| is a crank I 0| which has its pin I02 attached with a ball-and-socket connection I03 to the lower end of a pitman I04 which has its upper end connected at I05 to the folding finger 89. Said finger 89 is pivoted at I08 between the walls of an adjustable support I05 adjustably mounted on the bracket I01 attached to the second side frame member 55. The screw 95a enables adjustment of support I08 to be readily made. It is to be noted that the ends or tip portions 90 of the two folding fingers 88 and 89 are to one side of the central longitudinal line of the body of each finger so that these two tips may pass one another to enter into the carton and simultaneously fold down the two locking flaps 9 thereon and cause the same to be tucked into the two slits I4.

Pivotally mounted on each of the pivot pins 92 and I06 respectively is an arm I08 carrying a face plate I 09 which engages one of the ends of the carton and folds it upwardly as the finger 88 or 89 on which said arm I08 is carried is swung down over the top of the carton. The arm I 08 is pivotally attached to the end of a link IIO which extends slidably through the body of the finger 88 or 89. spring II I.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device will be readily understood. Cartons in flattened form are contained in the stack 34 as previously.

disclosed, and are successively carried from the bottom of the stack and moved along the rails 60 to 63 inclusive toward the folding fingers 88 and 89. While being so moved, the ends of the cartons may, if necessary, be preliminarily flexed at the transverse score lines I5 and at the flap-folds I0 and I3, to facilitate the laterfolding or erection of the cartons at these points. When each cartons reaches the rollers I6 and T1, the fiaps 9 and I2 are flattened down thereby, and then the carton reaches a point below the folding fingers 88 and 89. At this time, the restraining fingers I8 and 81 are moved up to become positioned at the opposite side edges of the carton and hold it stationary for a predetermined time. While the carton is being so held or restrained, the two fingers 88 and 89 are swung inwardly or toward one another, and as such inward movement of these elements 88 and 89 occurs, the resiliently mounted pressure plates I09 engage against the opposite ends of the carton and start to fold these ends upwardly on the fold lines I5 in the manner diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5. This upward movement of these opposite ends of the carton causes a simultaneous upward The arm is spring-pressed by movement of the side walls 4 and 5 of the carton so that the four walls of the carton are thus simultaneously brought to an erect position. As further downward movement of the folding fingers 88 and 89 continues, the tips or extremities 9| of the fingers will enter the carton and contact with the locking flaps 9 at the opposite ends of the carton, folding these flaps 9 downwardly and causing them to enter into the slits [l4 in the bottom of the carton. This is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6. As the fingers 88 and 89 enter the carton the flaps 9 and ends of the carton are compressed between the ends 9I of these fingers and the resiliently-supported pressure plates I09, the latter backing up the ends of the carton and holding them upright while the flaps 9 are folded down and are tucked into slits I4.

At the conclusion of the operations above described, the fingers 88 and 89 are swung back or elevated and they thus rise out of the erected carton. The timing of the machine is such that when this occurs, the restraining fingers I8 and 81 are swung downwardly to free the carton, and at this time ejector fingers II5, carried by the hubs of the sprockets 24, swing around into contact with the rear edges of the erected carton and move it forwardly and away from the folding fingers where it can be manually picked up or directed into a slide or chute and thence into a collection receptacle at the front of the machine.

The structure described is such that the folding and erection of the cartons takes place with speed and accuracy and each carton is uniformly erected. While I have herein suggested that'the cartons upon which the machine operates shall be those in which the ends are provided with looking flaps tucked into slits, it will be apparent that the machine may be utilized for the: erection of cartons of other construction, hence in describing the operation of the machine in connection with a special type of carton, I do :not wish to'be understood as limiting the invention to the use of such carton.

While I have described one embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough. to cover all structures coming within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting a carton stack, a chain conveyor for successively removing cartons from the bottom of the stack and carrying the same away from the stack, means for engaging each carton so removed from the stack and holding it for a predetermined period in a stationary position, pivoted tucking fingers located at each end of said carton-holding means, means for pivotally moving said pivoted tucking fingers, resiliently mounted plates carried by said fingers for engagement with the ends of the carton while the carton is held stationarily to fold said ends upwardly to erect position, and end portions on the fingers caused to enter into the erected carton and fold downwardly flaps on the ends of said carton and cause said flaps to be tucked into slits provided in the bottom portion of the carton, each finger folding down the flap at that end of the carton that is held in erect position by the resiliently-mounted plate of its companion finger.

2. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting a stack of flattened cartons,

tense-e 7 ecartonefo dingnmeansa a conveyorziorcr m vin insuccessiveqcartonsafrom.the bottom-of therstack Heated-at the folding means for, holding each. can

ton in a stationary position for; a predetermined ;,period of--time,, the cartonefolding means including parts movable toward the opposite, ends of the carton; to engage,- said ends and fold the same to tan ,urzright positionwhile thesides of the, carton pare simultaneously 1 moved ,to an erect position, c said carton-folding means including swingingfinv gers pivotally moved toward andcrossing, one another and. brought; down inside of the carton and. against flaps located on the ends of the carton tothereby folddown-said flaps andgcause the sameito betucked into slits provided in the bottom of the ,earton, g each finger," folding down :the, flapvon that end of the carton Which is held Huprightby theparts carried by, and movablewith' 3, its; omp nion fin erv1 ,In,a machine of the characterv described, a esupportlforpa flattened carton,,means engaging thepoppositez side edges of said carton .to hold ,the carton from shifting movement, ;.a pair of pivoted fingers movable toward one another to .,enter into the carton to engage flaps at the opposite ends of the carton ,to'fold down, said flaps "into thecarton and cause the flaps to enter slits 7 provided in the bottom of the carton, and resilient means carried by said fingers and capable'of movement independently thereof for engaging the ropposite ends of the carton to raise said ends "to upright position before the fingers enter into the carton, 'theresilient -means carried by one fingeracting to raise theend carrying the flap "that-is tucked in by'the other finger.

-4. In-a machine for setting up cartons, means "forconveyingflattened cartons, means forhalt- *ing said-cartons at a predetermined point, means at said point 'for holding the carton against -movement, means operativetat the opposite ends of-theheld cartonfor'foldingup the ends-of the carton to-upright position,-said means including resiliently-mounted pressure plates, fingers on which .said plates ;,arev resiliently mounted; said fingers having end "portions entering into the {cartons-and; folding :downjfiaps thereon into the --carton to locked positions while, the hendspof the carton are held by the pressure plates in upright position, the plate on one fingensuppQrting a parton-end while theflap on said end is folded :down to locked position by the otherfinger.

,5; In a'machine for setting up cartons of the type having locking flaps tuckedlin slits at the opposite ends of the cartons,,means for supporting 1a fiat, carton blank in a stationary position, pivot edtueking fingers located at the opposite ends of @the. support and adjacent to the loekingpflaps oi lthevcarton heldon'the supporting means, means 6 .,for pivotally; swinging ,said fingers toward one :eanother and causing, them to cross each other in .theirarcs of swing to enterthev supported carton such crossed relation, each of the tucking fingers having-Va resiliently-mounted plate for conatheelockingri. flapsthat is etncked; :in sbyuthe; other :Kfineer. V 6. In a machine for;setting-ppgcartonsshaving fielded-down lockineqflaps tucked sinslitsy-Latv the 5 :fOPlOOSiIlG ends got-the Y carton, a, support forreach .carton while itisbeing: set up,;-a=pair of tucking ;;fingers;;respectively jpivotedrati the; opposite ends gof., the support, meansufor: swingin nsaidrfingers -and@cansing:the s me t0..:cross-1on anotheri-in 10 iltheir; -pivotal movement toward-fine; anothei'ieach fingerzcarryingga ;r esilient member; for; engaging "Lthe1end of the ,carton ,locatedznearestgto itspivot and elevatingsaid-gend'.to'ran erect,:positiQn, -:,the -fingers :each having: .an ;extre,mity ientering into the carton whenzsaidfingersaare; in crcssedrela- :ution to engage the locking. flaps natzotherends of -=::;thea'cartonaand tuck the: same cin'rgthe -slits,-:the

extremity :of each finger engaging the J locking ,flapsremoter from the end :ofathe carbon "that; is f2oc=elevatedizby the: resilient member carried by; that :c finger. 1'7. Inna machineiior-settinguup cartons nofisthe ztype' having folded-down :looking flaps tucked in slits .at the'oppositeends of-thecartoh, conveying means "fora-successively engaging "and r carrying cartons in;-a substantially. fiat condition, .means for haltingand :supporting each: carton :so carried, a pair of'fingers' respectively pivoted at" the -opp'osite ends of thesupportingimeans, meansfor -pivoting said 'fingers toward =-one -another and causing-them to cross one another in'such pivotal movement, said fingers having meansengaging the opposite ends 'of' the halted and supported carton and-folding said opposite i ends'to upstanding position;- said fingers -having e'xtremities entering into the carton whenithe fingersvarein crossed relation so that the'extremity (if-each finger engages and folds down a locking flap 'farthest from the pivot of'said finger. 8. 1m amachine'for setting upcartonsof the type having "folded-down locking flaps=entering into slits atthe oppositeends of the carton, means jior-supporting a -carton blank in astationary position; pivoted tuckingrfingerslocate'd at the opposite ends of the supporting means, means for swinging said tucking fingers toward oneanother and causing the same to cross oneanother in their swing, a :resiliently a mounted -plate carried by eachjinger for ;contactingwith opposite end portions onthe'blank:andfoldingfsaid-end portions to upstanding position, "said -"tucling fingers being provided with extremities entering into the carton and folding down the locking 'fiaps, thereon and causing thesame toenter the slitsin thecarton, the-extremity oirone 'finger being operative to field down i a locking flap rat theendof-the carton-that hashad its end "portionfl raised by-the resiliently mountedf platemf the other finger. 0 gDAVID'j LEVKOFF.

. "REFERENCES CITED The "following references are of record, in "the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES, PATENTS Number Name Date 

